Take advantage of the bad times

Lawmakers interested in renewing funding for the state’s open-space preservation almost universally say the program needs to have a long-term, recurring source of cash, not more general-obligation borrowing. But with the recession and its impact on state revenues and residents, they appear loathe to propose any tax or fee increases for the program.

But two officials of Gov. Jon Corzine’s administration told the Senate and Assembly environment committees Thursday that open-space funding is needed sooner rather than later. The recession actually provides an opportunity for the state to get premium land at less-than-premium prices, since builders have scaled back their ambitions until the economy stabilizes.

“The extraordinary preservation projects will evaporate as soon as the development market regains its economic footing. So it’s a critical time right now,” said state Department of Agriculture Secretary Douglas Fisher. “A lack of funding now will cause us to lose this once-in-a-lifetime preservation opportunity.”

Garden State Preservation Trust chairman Michael Murphy acknowledged the political pressures of the poor economy.

“”In this time, in this difficult economic environment, as members of the committee regardless of political stripe talk about budget cuts and furloughs and belt-tightening, the knee-jerk reaction might be: ‘Well, maybe we can’t afford to fund the Garden State Preservation Trust and the open-space programs at both DEP and Agriculture. And actually nothing could be further from the truth,” he said. “It’s counterintuitive. What we really need to be doing is focusing on this great opportunity, while the developers for the first time in probably a generation are standing down and rethinking their development strategies … this is an opportunity for us to be able to compete with a great advantage for the open space that continues to remain in New Jersey.”

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About Michael Symons

Michael Symons has covered seven governors while working in Gannett's Statehouse Bureau -- a stint which actually only stretches back to 2000, but the door revolves quickly in New Jersey politics. He's co-author of the biography "Chris Christie: The Inside Story of His Rise to Power."

2 Responses to Take advantage of the bad times

Having been born in Sussex County when there were literally “More Cows Than People,” no one has worked longer to try and stop reckless development. I am the ninth generation born on the land (if you don’t count probable Minisink ancestry) and I want to see it preserved, along with its historic and cultural landmarks. But before we replenish the funding to do so, we need to reform the system of public land acquisition and management. We need to revisit and restore the stewardship ethic, empowering qualified professionals and ridding ourselves of nepotism, cronyism and bureaucratic despotism. I call on all whose connections to the land are emotional and deeply spiritual to end the vandalism of our cultural and natural heritage.

Deepest regards to Kevin and his stewardship of our land. Thanks to him, we have open space available today that needs better stewardship. If we don’t keep acquiring land, open spaces will become developed and will be forever beyond any possibility of recovery. And if we don’t keep acquiring land, the state’s vital apparatus for acquiring land (which makes possible county and local efforts) for public use could fall apart and not re-start for years to come. Continuing to acquire land will also help physicially buffer the areas that need stewarding, and thus help in some ways to protect the existing open spaces Kevin is talking about. Also consider that landowners in the Highlands truly need there to be funds for compensation, and many farmers statewide need to know the funds exist in order to keep farming, and more historic sites in the state will decay without these funds. I’m confident that renewal of the Garden State Preservation Trust in November would help us generate a statewide conversation soon afterwards about how to improve our stewardship of existing lands. But if the GSPT is not funded this November, the setback to New Jersey will be huge, and most groups will spend their time trying to renew it rather than re-focus on generating stewardship funds. We must do both — continue acquiring land and improve stewardship; In New Jersey today we don’t have the choice of doing the latter without the former.

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A second look at news, and not-quite-news, on New Jersey, its politics and government, from the Statehouse Bureau of New Jersey Press Media.

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About the Authors

Bob JordanBob Jordan has covered state, county and muncipal governments for the past 10 years. He has also covered the gaming industry and has been a sports team beat writer for NHL, NBA and major league baseball teams.E-mail Bob

John SchoonejongenJohn Schoonejongen is state editor for Gannett New Jersey newspapers. He has reported and edited at New Jersey newspapers from Salem County to Passaic County, writing about everything from state politics to lost pigs on the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Born in Camden County, he still speaks with a southern New Jersey accent, much to his wife's annoyance.E-mail John

Michael SymonsMichael Symons has covered seven governors while working in Gannett's Statehouse Bureau -- a stint which actually only stretches back to 2000, but the door revolves quickly in New Jersey politics. He's co-author of the biography "Chris Christie: The Inside Story of His Rise to Power."E-mail Michael